Bedford Boer War Memorial

The Bedford Boer War Memorial is a war memorial dedicated to the Second Boer War, unveiled on June 2, 1904, and designed by Leon Joseph Chavillard. It features a bronze statue of a soldier in full combat uniform, depicted standing informally at ease with his left leg forward and both hands clasping the top of his rifle barrel, which rests on the ground. The statue is elevated on a tall classical plinth made of Portland stone, which has a deep cornice and incorporates a Venetian arch, along with a moulded base.

The plinth is situated at the center of a raised square platform that is surrounded by metal bollards, one at each corner and one at the center of each side. Each side of the plinth displays a bronze panel engraved with the names of 230 men who died, listed by rank and regiment. An inscription on the panels reads:

"TO THE MEMORY OF THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENTS AND OF BEDFORDSHIRE MEN SERVING IN OTHER BRANCHES OF THE IMPERIAL FORCES WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN AND WHOSE NAMES ARE HEREON RECORDED. THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION IN THE COUNTY. WAR DECLARED OCTOBER 8th 1899 PEACE PROCLAIMED JUNE 1st 1902."